Giuliano Cazzola, a historical figure of reference for Italian trade unionism, takes the field and runs for elections in Emilia-Romagna, his region, in support of the outgoing president Stefano Bonaccini, leader of the center-left formation. The announcement by Cazzola, a staunch opponent of Matteo Salvini's League for years, also participating in fiery televised debates, was made official through a letter sent to the newspaper Il Foglio: "On 26 January there will be votes in Calabria and Emilia-Romagna ( which is my region) – writes the labor lawyer, who held important positions in the CGIL and then in politics -. About ten days later I will be 79 years old: a venerable age after a long life full of experiences and satisfactions”.
“I could feel satisfied and pull the oars in the boat (…). Instead, I accepted – continued Cazzola in his letter -, of lead one (made up of +Europe, Pri and Psi) of the six lists who support the re-election of Stefano Bonaccini as president of the Emilia-Romagna region". The candidate also takes into account the accusation of being considered a "turncoat'': "It is a criticism that I believe is undeserved, because in all the formations in which I have served (including the PDL when its relations with the League were reversed to the current ones) I have always conditioned my commitment to the presence of the fundamental values in which I believe: the open society, the globalization of the economy, Europe and the euro, reforms and stability, the acceptance and integration of foreigners".
“I shared and supported – also said Cazzola – the constitution of the Monti government and the policies adopted for the salvation of Italy, including the pension reform of Minister Fornero, even when this civil servant was subjected to unjust and ferocious personal attacks. The list I represent has appreciated the work of the Bonaccini administration, shares its program and is working towards its re-election. But, though a minority force, the list has taken to the field with an even more ambitious goal: to help stop the black wave of Matteo Salvini and salvinism. The leader of the League is personally carrying on a battle of a national nature in the region. For the left, on the other hand, it would be a historic defeat, well beyond the repercussions on the current government and the possible recourse to early elections”.
Finally, a reference to the sardine movement, which was born in Emilia-Romagna and to which Cazzola has also dedicated a reflection on FIRSTonline: “The movement that has best understood the importance of the January 26 challenge – he writes in Il Foglio – is the self-defined sardine movement. A movement of young people different from the stereotype we have been used to from talk shows; an anti-populist people, of European culture, who was able to identify in Matteo Salvini, for what he represents, the "absolute evil'' of this political phase".
Cazzola is a candidate to guarantee victory for Lucia Borgonzoni.